12-yr-old forced into prostitution by mother, threatened by SHO

The chance sighting of a 12-year-old girl at a northeast Delhi junction a week ago has opened a can of worms for the Delhi Police. A police officer had found the girl at the Tahirpur T-Point late at night earlier this month. He was in for a shock when he asked her to explain what she was up to at a desolate street at an unearthly hour.

“The young girl, in a matter-of-fact manner, simply stated that she was a prostitute and was doing her job. The police officer then called up her mother and asked her to pick her daughter up from the local police station but the mother refused,” said an officer.

The girl was produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) on October 12 the next day. In conversation with a committee member, the minor revealed the existence of an alleged human trafficking network thriving locally in northeast Delhi, sources said.

“The girl, whose parents are divorced, disclosed that she wanted to study. But her mother, sister and maternal aunt forced her into prostitution,” the officer said.

Sources said the victim said the Station House Officer (SHO) of a local police station was related to her mother. The girl also alleged that she had gone back home after giving her statement following which the SHO had visited her there. He threatened her with a gun and asked her to change her statement, she alleged.

A criminal case for selling a minor for prostitution and rape under Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act was registered at the committee’s behest. Senior officers from the district said though a criminal case had been registered at the Jyoti Nagar Police Station on the basis of her statement, the matter — which also puts a local SHO in the dock — is under investigation.

“As per the committee’s order, the girl needs to be handed over to her brother who can ensure that she continues her studies. However, that is yet to happen,” the officer said.

Meanwhile in another raid on north Delhi’s red light district GB Road, six women, including five minors, were rescued by the police on Monday. The six had been trafficked from West Bengal.